The first laparoscopic nephrectomy was reported in 1991 and this started a new era for surgical treatment of many renal pathologies. Multiple studies have demonstrated that laparoscopic radical nephrectomy results in significantly less morbidity and earlier return to activity compared to the open approach and long term studies yielded similar oncologic outcomes. This method has become a popular alternative for the treatment of renal masses not amenable to nephron-sparing surgery in many centers worldwide.
With growing experience and advances in technology, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy indications have been extended to cover patients with big renal masses, with tumor thrombus in renal vein or with metastatic tumors. It has also been shown that elderly, obese or pregnant patients with renal cancers can successfully be treated by laparoscopic radical nephrectomy.